According to the Washington Post, in Fairfax County, some parents say that spring graduation ceremonies should recognize students who have chosen to enlist in the military instead of go to college. They are pressing the county school board to acknowledge that volunteering for the armed forces is a commitment worthy of a public display of respect, with red, white, and blue “honor cords” that graduates would wear around their necks as they receive diplomas.
One of my ex-military readers, TM, has this take on the WP article:
Some soon-to-be GI high schoolers are quoted, but having been down that route myself many years ago, I can confirm that they don’t know a cotton-pickin’ thing about what they’re getting into.
I entered Army basic training in early February 1975 and was sent to Fort Jackson, SC, and I well remember my company’s senior drill sergeant hollering at us as we marched on our way to training somewhere on post. (Note: “Joe” was a term used for an individual trainee or group of trainees. Also beware: Nasty language follows.)
He yelled, “Now Joe, I don’t know what that lyin’-ass recruiter told you, but the Army is still the motherfuckin’ Army, and basic training is still basic motherfuckin’ training, and for the next two months I’m gonna kick your ass, Joe! Gonna kick your goddamned ass! Is that clear?!” We responded with, “YES, DRILL SERGEANT!!” But of course it wasn’t loud enough (it never is, even if planes fell from the sky because of the noise), so he replied, “Sounds mighty weak, Joe! Sounds mighty goddamned weak! You owe me 20 [push-ups] when we get there!” The number would continue to rise as we were en route, and he never forgot to collect, either.
Here’s an excerpt from the article: “The thing we’re trying to do here is recognize the commitment these young men and women have made,” said board member Elizabeth Schultz (Springfield). “If they’re willing to say, ‘You know what, I’m ready to serve,’ that’s somebody stepping up to the line who has demonstrably acquired some critical thinking, strategic planning and leadership skills.”
I can say for certain that nobody enlisting is going to engage in thinking, planning or leadership. That point is impressed upon everyone from the very beginning. If someone says, “But I thought…” then someone else will cut him off and scream, “You don’t get paid to think!!” That BS continues throughout one’s enlistment. Likewise, no one at the lower end of the food chain is going to be allowed to do any planning of anything, and the only “leadership” one might perform is if he is selected to be a squad or platoon leader for a bunch of other trainees, which is only barely different from the rest of them.
One thing someone will learn is how to curse in a manner worse than anything he might have heard in high school.
It is high time people of all ages quit worshipping the military and imagining it’s something other than what it really is.
